Playing the Piano

Playing the piano is something that is very important in the story. For Billie Jo, playing is the most important thing to her. In the novel, playing the piano symbolizes freedom for Billie Jo. The lines "When I point my fingers at the keys, the music springs right out of me...That is heaven. How supremely haven playing the piano can be." Winter 1934 Pages 13-14 show that Billie Jo gets so much more out of playing than just impressing people. Playing the piano is something that is personal to her. When she plays, she is able to express herself and not hold back. She can say what she wants through playing. Billie Jo's mother taught her how to play the piano. The difference between Billie Jo and her mother is that Billie Jo has a passion for playing. She wants her music to take her away from Oklahoma and away from the dust. Billie Jo's mother doesn't have that kind of passion when she plays. She's also afraid that by Billie Jo playing the piano, it will take her away from Oklahoma and away from her and her husband. The idea of Billie Jo possibly leaving for good scares her very much.

Billie Jo simply wants to belong somewhere. For her it's at the paino. "Here's how I figure it. My place is in the world is at the piano...It's all being part of Arley's crowd that I like so much, being on the road, being somewhere new and interesting. We had a fine time. And they let me play the piano, too." Spring 1934 Pages 49-51

These lines prove that Billie Jo simply wants to belong somewhere. With the death of her mother and brother, Billie Jo feels even more alone in the world than before. She knows that she's talented at playing the paino but her mother was talented at the paino as well. Her mother gave up her dreams of playing to settle down with her father. Billie Jo doesn't want the same for herself. She wants to make something of herself but she isn't sure how to do that. With her father being so distant, Billie Jo doesn't really have anyone to turn to. Because of this, she turns very much to playing the paino.